Today, Microsoft released a cumulative update for Outlook 2007 that provides access to Exchange 2010's Archive mailbox. A long awaited feature, Outlook 2007 users previously had to rely on Outlook Web Access to access their archive. Some organizations have held off deploying Exchange's archive feature because they had Outlook 2007 deployed. Now, the wait is over.

Hotfix 2458611 is now available for the download for the x86 platform. Among the features that will become available to Outlook 2007 users are:

Accessing messages in the archive

Moving messages into the archive

Accessing the archive of a manager when granted delegate access

There are some known limitations when compared to Outlook 2010 and the archive. Among them are the lack of support for archive policies and the ability to search independently of the mailbox and archive.

For more information on Exchange 2010's personal archive feature, see:

The Mango update is supposedly bigger than the January and/or February update, according to my sources. Mango is more like a Windows Phone OS 7.5 — and may even be named that when it debuts.

I’m thinking the January/February update might actually be a single update. That first update is supposedly how Microsoft will deliver copy and paste to users. WinRumours.com reported recently that a possible second update will introduce enhanced developer controls for applications, access to programming interfaces that will allow for greater multi-tasking, in-app downloads and better customization.

Posted by sumeethevans on December 16 2010, 5:35 AM.
Posted in Hardware.

Microsoft is making it easy and affordable for corporations to have high-quality webcams, headsets, mice and keyboards with its line of Hardware for Business products. The line includes a range of Microsoft Hardware products packaged for volume purchasing by businesses, such as the recently launched LifeCam Studio for high-definition video calls, saving businesses money and time on travel, and the Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, providing users with ultimate comfort. With devices that offer maximum comfort and productivity, the line of Hardware for Business products lets employees get the job done — whether at the office, from home or on the go.

Microsoft Hardware for Business makes a range of Microsoft Hardware products available for purchase in increments of five, with each product individually packaged and licensed for easier distribution and customer support. The line makes it easy for IT professionals, business owners and distributors to purchase Microsoft Hardware devices for themselves and their customers. Because Microsoft has been a leader in PC peripherals for close to three decades, purchasing Microsoft Hardware means businesses can feel confident that their employees have the tools needed to stay productive with comfortable keyboards and mice and with webcams and headsets that work with leading communications software, all at a great price.*

During PDC 2010 we announced much new functionality to become available at the end of this calendar year. Some of these new functionalities are available as of today:

Full Administrative Access

Full IIS Access

Remote Desktop

Windows Azure Connect

VM Role

Reading about cloud computing is one thing, experimenting and trying it out is a completely different thing. As such Microsoft provides you different ways allowing you exploring these new functionalities while making cloud computing and Windows Azure in particular more accessible to you and your business.

Posted by sumeethevans on December 16 2010, 5:29 AM.
Posted in Dynamics.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Release Candidate (RC) is now available for download in the Microsoft Download Center. As with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta, the Release Candidate is available for anyone to download, and will be available until the RTM release scheduled for Q1, 2011. This release represents the combined efforts and feedback from customers and partners working on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta so thank you for all of you involved in this process.

Upgrades: On-premises Beta databases can be upgraded to this new RC release which can then be upgraded to the upcoming RTM release.

Release Candidate is the last external milestone before the CRM Online Release to Web (RTW) launch in January 2011, and the on-premises Release to Manufacturing (RTM) in Q1, 2011, so please continue testing and validating this new pre-release version as well as continue building your deployments and solutions to be ready for the RTW and RTM releases.

This update contains a number of customer reported and internally found issues since the release of RU1. In particular we would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 1 is currently scheduled to release in February.

Update Rollup 2 for Exchange Server 2007 SP3

This update contains a number of customer reported and internally found issues since the release of RU1. In particular we would like to specifically call out the following fixes which are included in this release:

972186 Need to include the server service as a required service for Exchange 2007 running on Server 2008

Update Rollup 3 for Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 3 is currently scheduled to release in February.

Update Rollup 5 for Exchange Server 2010 RTM

This update contains an internally found issue which can impact upgrades from RTM RU4 to Service Pack 1. We have opted to release an out-of-band update rollup for Exchange 2010 RTM proactively to ensure customers have as smooth an upgrade experience as possible.

2266458 Setup cannot perform a mode:/uninstall on a HT role server since RU2 delivered MSFTE.msi

Currently, we have no plans to release future update rollups for Exchange Server 2010 RTM. We strongly recommend customers upgrade to Service Pack 1 with the latest Update Rollup after installing this update.

Update Rollup 5 for Exchange Server 2007 SP2

This security update was released earlier this morning via the Microsoft Security Response Center. Details of this bulletin and it's fix can be found below:

As a reminder, Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 allows organizations to provide computing access for more users for a lower total cost of acquisition and ownership. Based on the latest Windows technology, it gives organizations all of the functionality and power of Windows Server 2008 R2 and all of the users the latest Windows 7 experience. It was designed to be easy to set up, manage and use for organizations that have limited technical resources.

We’re entering the home stretch, but we need your help once again before we’re ready to bring MultiPoint Server 2011 to market. Check out the new features of the Release Candidate, which include:

More teacher and/or administrator controls over the stations, including:

o Centrally open and close apps for each station

o Project a user, student or teacher station to the entire classroom

o Limit access to certain websites

These join the Desktop Thumbnail and Station Blocking features announced as part of the beta to provide more control for teachers.

Easier and more flexible deployment, including:

o Support for PS/2 keyboard and mouse to allow an additional direct-connected station, installing WMS into a Virtual Machine, etc.

o Auto-create RDP connection files so that you can easily access MultiPoint sessions or management UI from another RDP client on the network

o The introduction of Standard and Premium editions available to all customers, with the Premium edition allowing Domain Join

o Support for RemoteFX capable thin clients to provide richer visual and multimedia experiences to MultiPoint stations connecting over the LAN

Adding these to the beta functionality that allows connecting RDP clients over the LAN, and unified Multipoint “pod” management from one console will provide a robust solution for deploying and managing MultiPoint Server.

As mentioned earlier, we’ve also fixed bugs that you reported and made additional changes to the UI based on your feedback. Again, thanks to all of you that have provided feedback on the beta. It has been extremely helpful in improving MultiPoint Server 2011. We couldn’t do it without you! I hope you’ll take the time to evaluate the Release Candidate and provide me with more feedback so that we have the best possible solution at launch.

As you are reading this we are making the final steps to bring the product to the market so that you can acquire throughout our large network of partners. We are finalizing international versions, delivering the product to distribution channels and handing it off to our OEM partners so that they can begin pre-installing the software on new servers. Starting in early January, you will find SBS 2011 Standard and Premium Add-On in volume licensing, and from mid-January you will be able to download a trial copy from our website.

Designed and priced for small businesses with up to 75 users, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard delivers enterprise-class server technology in an affordable, all-in-one solution. Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard not only helps to protect, access, and manage your information from virtually anywhere, but also allows your business to be more productive by providing:

A great way to manage email with the powerful new Microsoft® Exchange Server 2010 SP1. Securely access and manage your communications—e-mail, voice mail, instant messaging, and more—from virtually any platform, Web-browser, or device.

A powerful collaboration suite with Microsoft SharePoint® Foundation Services 2010. Enable your employees to access and share your business documents with exciting features and capabilities that help you collaborate securely online—no matter where you are.

Currently, Microsoft has stores in San Diego, Calif.; Mission Viejo, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Lone Tree, Colo.; Oak Brook, Ill.; Bloomington, Minn.; and Bellevue, Wash. Microsoft’s strategy with these stores has been to locate close to Apple stores in each city and use the stores as a showcase for new PCs, Xboxes, Kinects, Windows Phones, games, apps and other consumer goods.

According to one of my sources, who has had a very good accuracy track record, Microsoft may field as many as six new Microsoft stores in 2011. On the short list of likely sites: Houston, Orlando and … at long last … New York City.

Today, consumers have very little awareness or control over who can track their online activity. Much has been written about this topic. With the release candidate:

IE9 will offer consumers a new opt-in mechanism (“Tracking Protection”) to identify and block many forms of undesired tracking.

“Tracking Protection Lists” will enable consumers to control what third-party site content can track them when they’re online.

We believe that the combination of consumer opt-in, an open platform for publishing of Tracking Protection Lists (TPLs), and the underlying technology mechanism for Tracking Protection offer new options and a good balance between empowering consumers and online industry needs. They further empower consumers and complement many of the other ideas under discussion. You can see how it might work in this video: